Austria is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe; especially during the winter months, when people come from all over the world to enjoy the alpine skiing opportunities Austria’s mountainous terrain allows. That isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of reasons to visit Austria during the rest of the year as well, you’re just more likely to be one of the millions of snow-time tourists. Whether you’re looking to visit the famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna or are looking to shred the mountainside, you’re going to need a means with which to get around the 110, 778 kilometers of paved roadways. A car rental is easily the best choice to go with.

Here are just a few transportation facts to consider. Austria is ranked eighty-fifth in world concerning number of airports, with fifty-five in total. It is ranked twenty-ninth in kilometers of railways, with about six and a half thousand kilometers of railway track, and fortieth in kilometers of roadways with the aforementioned amount of paved roads. In other words, there are a large number of ways to get around Austria efficiently.

So with the rising gas prices due to a shortage of petroleum coming out of Russia, the primary distributor for most of Europe, including Austria, why would rent a car instead of hop from airport to airport or take a passenger train? The reason is quite simple; in fact, you may have already realized it yourself. A plane or train is generally more expensive to travel by and will continue to rise in price along with gas prices. This is because the same fuel coming out of Russia is also used to fuel all other modes of transportation as well. Also, planes and trains have a single destination in mind. You can’t ask to be let out sooner, and you’d have to walk anywhere other than the central stations or take a taxi, which will cost you more than simply renting your own vehicle.

Why not just drive your own vehicle into, and around, Austria? If you live close enough to the country then that could be a good possibility. However, you will have to take into account the cost of international insurance, all the time you’ll have to spend at the border to get in, and the possibility of having your car taken apart for a routine inspection before being allowed through. Time is money. Do you really want to waste yours in a long line simply trying to get inside?

Also, you need to keep in mind that Austrians drive on the right side of the road. If you’re from a country that isn’t used to this, then driving a vehicle meant for left side driving could become very disorienting. There are also varying driving laws that may differ from your own country, making renting a car the best idea because you will be able to easily obtain a car that meets all requirements by law and you will meet people specially trained to fill you in on all you need to know. Do the smart thing, and rent a car next time you decide to visit Austria.

Make sure to click on one of the links at the top of the page for more specific rental car information into Airports, train stations or other car rental locations.